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Addressing the media, Mrs May said: “I want to explain the reasons for that decision, what will happen next and the choice facing the British people when you come to vote in this election.

“Last summer, after the country voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership, and since I became Prime Minister the Government has delivered precisely that.

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General Election called amid Westminster divisions.

Theresa May has called a snap general election on June 8, claiming that divisions at Westminster risked hampering Brexit negotiations.

The Prime Minister will need the support of two-thirds of MPs to go to the country, with a vote scheduled in the Commons on Wednesday.

The move has left Westminster stunned, as Mrs May and Number 10 have repeatedly insisted she would not seek a general election before the scheduled 2020 poll.

But Mrs May, who has a fragile working majority of just 17 in the Commons, said she wanted “unity” at Westminster as talks on Brexit begin in earnest with the European Union.

She said: “We want a deep and special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and a United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world.

“That means we will regain control of our own money, our own laws and our own borders and we will be free to strike trade deals with old friends and new partners all around the world.

“This is the right approach, and it is in the national interest. But the other political parties oppose it.

“At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division. The country is coming together, but Westminster is not.”

Watch the announcement below:

12:09

Jeremy Corbyn's full statement

Corbyn says he welcomes the Prime Minister’s decision:

12:07KEY EVENT

Watch: Here's how it's all going to work

12:07

What the bookies think...

The Conservatives have been slashed from 8/13 to 2/9 (87% chance) by William Hill to win the next General Election with an overall majority.

Hills make Labour 14/1 to do likewise - the longest odds they have been offered at this century.

The chances of a Hung Parliament are rated at 4/1 (20%) by Hills.

But the bookies reckon the future looks bleak for Jeremy Corbyn and William Hill offer 1/2 (66% chance) that he will cease to be Labour leader on or before June 9, 2017, 6/4 that he will still be leader on June 10, 2017.

12:05

David Cameron shows his support

David Cameron has tweeted his support following the General Election announcement:

12:04

Nicola Sturgeon says Theresa May is trying to 'move UK to the right'

First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says calling a general election is the Prime Minister trying to “move UK to the right”

11:47KEY EVENT

Corbyn welcomes General Election

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first.”

11:39KEY EVENT

Pound bounces back into positive territory after General Election announcement

The pound bounced back into positive territory after Prime Minister Theresa May announced a General Election would take place on June 8.

It sent the pound up 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.257, recovering from a 0.3% drop just an hour earlier, reports Kalyeena Makortoff, Press Association City Reporter.

Versus the euro, the pound was hovering near the flatline at 1.180, rising from a 0.4% loss.

Investors were digesting news of the snap election, as Downing Street had previously denied plans for a poll before 2020.

Prime Minister Theresa May has called a general election for the United Kingdom to be held on June 8 (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

11:28KEY EVENT

Labour MP standing down

Labour’s Tom Blenkinsop says he will not seek re-election on June 8.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP tweeted:

11:22KEY EVENT

Theresa May's statement

Here’s part of Theresa May’s announcement:

“I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet, where we agreed that the Government should call a general election, to be held on June 8.

“I want to explain the reasons for that decision, what will happen next and the choice facing the British people when you come to vote in this election.

“Last summer, after the country voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership, and since I became Prime Minister the Government has delivered precisely that.

“Despite predictions of immediate financial and economic danger, since the referendum we have seen consumer confidence remain high, record numbers of jobs, and economic growth that has exceeded all expectations.

“We have also delivered on the mandate that we were handed by the referendum result.”

11:15KEY EVENT

May announces General Election with 'reluctance'

The Prime Minister said in her announcement that it was with ‘reluctance’ that she calls a General Election.

Explaining her change of heart on an early election, Mrs May said: “I have concluded the only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election.”

Theresa May has called an early general election for June 8 in an announcement which has stunned Westminster.

The Prime Minister had repeatedly denied that she would call an election before the next scheduled poll in 2020.

But following a Cabinet meeting at Downing Street she said she would go to the country this year.

The general election will be held on June 8.

11:13Natasha Davies

May says "country is coming together, Westminster is not"

11:08Natasha Davies

Prime Minister says General Election is the right approach

Speaking outside Downing Street Theresa May said: “This is the right approach, it is in the national interest”

11:06KEY EVENT

General Election on June 8

The Prime Minister has confirmed there will be a General Election on June 8

11:03

Could it be a General Election?

Unconfirmed reports suggest there could be a snap General Election.

As things stand, the next General Election is expected to take place on Thursday, May 7 2020.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 provides that parliamentary general elections take place every five years on the first Thursday in May.

The Act also contains two provisions that could trigger an earlier election other than at five year intervals.

The last general election was almost two years ago, on Thursday, May 7, 2015.

If an earlier general election is triggered the Act does not state that the election has to be held on a Thursday.

Before the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 the Prime Minister could choose any weekday for a general election, according to a fixed electoral timetable.

Technically, Theresa May can call an election, despite parliaments now having a fixed term of five years.

But to do so she would have to either repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments act, call a vote of no-confidence in her own government (requiring a simple 50%+1 majority in the House of Commons) or she could call an early election if 2/3 of MPs agreed to back the call.

11:01

15 minutes to go - mystery surrounds announcement

10:54

Speculation on Twitter continues ahead of statement

Number 10 is remaining tight-lipped about what the Prime Minister will be announcing.

And some people have got some interesting ideas about what she might have to say...